07:43 PM
42 minutes: England 0 France 1
Griezmann is a player whose days at the top level appeared numbered, but he has been wonderful in this tournament and the best player on the pitch so far. England struggling to pick him up. He has produced some lovely touches and has got through lots of dirty work.
A bit too much there for the referee’s liking, as he is booked for tripping Kyle Walker.
07:41 PM
40 minutes: England 0 France 1
From that free-kick, Theo Hernandez worked a position down the left, and found Mbappe who could not keep a difficult half volley down.
Then a well-worked England attack as Saka finds Kane at the back post, but his knockdown was not close enough to a white shirt.
07:38 PM
38 minutes: England 0 France 1
England try to switch play out to Henderson wide right, but the ball runs out of play. Mbappe then find space to turn and face England’s defence, and Henderson trips him from behind. That is not a bad foul to give away.
07:37 PM
36 minutes: England 0 France 1
Griezmann has been France’s star performer so far, but is committing a number of fouls. Yet to receive a booking from the referee. England have been the better side since falling behind, but there is that ever-present counter-attacking threat.
07:35 PM
France’s goal
07:33 PM
33 minutes: England 0 France 1
Mbappe had the chance to counter-attack there after a loose England pass in midfield, but Walker stood up and won the ball cleanly. Textbook one-on-one defending. Then Griezmann gives a foul away.
07:32 PM
30 minutes: England 0 France 1
England with a strong period of pressure. First Kane had a deflected strike from distance which Lloris pushed around the box, and then there was pin ball in the France six-yard box from the corner but they clear. England, especially Kane, are looking dangerous in the box.
07:30 PM
From Henry Samuel in Paris
In the Cannibale bar in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, feverish cheers erupted when the France scored their first goal.
In a sweaty ambiance, Parisian Terri, 25, pint in hand, predicted “2-0 to France with one for Mbappe and one for Griezman”.
Briton Alex Kelly, 38, from Hackney in London and who lives in Paris with his French wife Coralie, said: “I think we’ll lose but England have a good team with lots of lovely young players for once. It makes you quite proud to be English.
I’m trying to steel myself and publicly predict 2-0 for France but secretly, I think we have a chance.”
07:29 PM
Jamie Carragher’s verdict on the penalty
Can’t believe that’s not a pen, Kane has started very well, every time the ball comes into him looks like something will happen.
07:29 PM
Jamie Carragher’s verdict
It felt like two opponents shadow boxing for the first 15 minutes and then the French have gone bang and threw the first punch in anger. England need to start landing blows of their own.
07:27 PM
No penalty!
The referee tells the players to get on with the game. The Var officials have judged the foul was outside the box.
England should be encouraged by how Kane is bullying Upamecano, though. The France defender looks shaky.
07:26 PM
Var checking for an England penalty!
Kane got the wrong side of Upamecano again and the defender brought him down. The only question: is it inside the penalty box? It is definitely a foul, just a question of which side of the line.
07:24 PM
Player ratings
Use our player ratings tool to deliver your verdict on who has been the best performer so far.
07:23 PM
22 minutes: England 0 France 1
This has been a really positive response from England, and Kane looked to be in on goal but his Spurs team-mate Lloris flew out at his feet and smothered from a tight angle. Cross stood up towards Bellingham at the back post but he could not quite get there. It was great skill from Kane to roll Upamecano.
07:19 PM
20 minutes: England 0 France 1
This time Saka does get the foul after a bold driving run inside. Rabiot brought him down after going to ground late. England free-kick, around 22 yards out, right of centre. The left foot of Luke Shaw is over it. Half a chance this.
A very clean strike from the left-back, but straight at Lloris who gathered.
07:18 PM
GOOOOOAAAALL! Tchouameni with a screamer – England 0 France 1
Around 90 seconds earlier, Saka felt he should have had a foul near the edge of the France penalty area. Upamecano through the back of him, but a lot happened after that.
Mbappe found himself central and breezed past Rice’s lunge. France work it right and then central again, where Tchouameni drilled a shot into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.
07:15 PM
15 minutes: England 0 France 0
Rice on the prowl in midfield and he robbed France of possession, with the ball breaking free for Kane up against Varane and Upamecano. Did not quite have the pace to drive straight for goal, but he turned back and helped England keep it.
Then Henderson gave it away with a misplaced square pass towards Saka, and Rabiot was driving at the England back four. Laid off to Mbappe, and his cross was just too heavy for Dembele at the back post.
07:12 PM
12 minutes: England 0 France 0
Giroud with his first effort on target. Luke Shaw was played around too easily, and Dembele was in behind him to deliver another cross. Giroud was leaning back but directed the header at goal, not enough power to trouble Pickford. That half-chance maybe puts France ahead on points. Lovely touch from Griezmann to help France keep the ball in their own half.
07:10 PM
10 minutes: England 0 France 0
Dembele delivers a really menacing cross from the right, flashed across the box. Giroud had dashed to the near post and it was just behind him, but in fairness Maguire had stuck to him. The ball is worked back to Griezmann and Bellingham tackles well at the expense of a corner. Whipped in to the near post but Kane cleared. England win the throw. Honours even so far, just about.
07:07 PM
8 minutes: England 0 France 0
Nearly a telling moment of quality from Mbappe, as he looked for Giroud in the box with an outside of the foot cross. Just behind the centre forward. That well known hard man Antoine Griezmann crunches into Bellingham with a sliding tackle to stop a counter-attack.
07:06 PM
6 minutes: England 0 France 0
England with a chance to test the French defence from a wide free-kick. Luke Shaw took an outswinger from the left but the flag went up for offside. Strong defensive header from Bellingham in front of Giroud.
07:04 PM
4 minutes: England 0 France 0
Saka found himself running at the France’s back four, a promising England counter-attack, but his shot was charged down. England force another high turnover, and Foden produces a lovely trick to tee himself up for a volley, but once again the ambitious effort was blocked. Bright moments from both attacks, but England will feel encouraged by how they are winning the back.
07:03 PM
2 minutes: England 0 France 0
Would you believe it…the ball goes flat within the first 20 seconds of the game. Dembele throws the ball back to Jordan Pickford. England then go long towards Foden, and win the seconds via a throw in. England enjoying some early possession and time on the ball.
France escape a tight spot through Hernandez though, and Mbappe enjoys his first touches of the ball. England a little loose in Walker’s area there, but no harm done.
07:00 PM
KICK OFF!
France get us started, both teams in their home World Cup kits. England take the knee at kick off.
06:57 PM
More from Henry Samuel…
Ahead of the game, Le Monde, France’s newspaper of note, wrote: “They didn’t do it on purpose but France and England have been avoiding each other for the past 40 years in the World Cup.”
In that time, “you had time to leave the European Union or become world champions twice. The English went for the first option.”
“Between the inventors of football and the world champions, Saturday’s quarter-final promises to be anyone’s game and with a certain form of mutual respect between the two squads who are barely used to crossing each other’s paths in a World Cup.”
06:55 PM
The teams are on their way out
A few whispers that the atmosphere is somewhat muted at the stadium, but the players will create their own atmosphere: it is England vs France in a World Cup quarter-final.
Time for the anthems.
06:54 PM
The final preparations being made
Gary Neville says: “This team has been growing for four years, they need these games in their life. What an opportunity and they usually deliver for us.”
06:50 PM
The scenes in Paris
By Henry Samuel in Paris,
Forget France, for now the Champs-Elysées is alive with Morocco fans after their historic victory against Portugal, as you can see in this clip.
06:46 PM
Gary Neville fancies England can trouble France’s defenders
They concede more chances than you think, they’ve conceded chances in every game. France’s defence will be worried about Kane, Saka and Foden and the players England can bring off the bench.
06:45 PM
Roy Keane sings Jordan Henderson’s praises
We always felt at Sunderland that he loved the game. As a young player he went out on loan and had challenges, came back and did well at Sunderland. Goes to Liverpool which wasn’t easy with Gerrard still around the place and people comparing them.
Really good kid, his family should be really proud. I’ve always liked Jordan. Although I did meet him for breakfast and few months ago and I paid! So he could be more generous.
06:42 PM
Lots of Santa hats at BoxPark Wembley
06:38 PM
The atmosphere is also building at home…
This is at the Victory Fan Zone in Manchester. Looks like they have a good central heating system.
06:36 PM
Ian Wright does not see a problem with Kane dropping in
When Kane drops in we need people that can go beyond him. The first goal against Senegal was constructed brilliantly. We’ve got people getting into the box, overlapping and that’s where we can cause France problems.
06:34 PM
France well supported in Qatar
06:28 PM
A tribute in the press box to American journalist Grant Wahl
06:26 PM
Thoughts on the England team
Their midfield of Rice, Bellingham and Henderson looks more powerful than France’s, and should give England a chance of winning more second balls and establishing control.
Foden and Saka are sharp enough, but the weakness in this set-up could be a lack of penetrative runners beyond Harry Kane. It is unusual for Southgate to go into a big tournament game without Raheem Sterling, while Marcus Rashford also had a strong claim to start. Southgate does like him as bench option for when the game gets stretched.
France’s right side is more secure with Kounde at right-back, but Saka vs Hernandez could be where England get in.
06:23 PM
There is the man England need to stop…
All the talk has been about England’s right side dealing with Mbappe. Perhaps we are in danger of forgetting that France will also fancy their chances of getting Ousmane Dembele running at Luke Shaw, who has not really been tested in this tournament,
06:21 PM
England’s players inspect the pitch at the Al Bayt
06:19 PM
Matt Law’s verdict on the less than convincing pre-match entertainment
No Chesney Hawkes yet tonight, but we’ve just had Toploader play live on the pitch. Let’s hope England will be Dancing in the Moonlight later. I’ll get my coat…
06:17 PM
Mike McGrath in position at Al Bayt Stadium
Our man is looking the part in the press box, this picture courtesy of Matt Law alongside him.
06:11 PM
How confident are England fans feeling?
06:11 PM
Jamie Carragher’s verdict on Southgate’s selection
It’s a good decision by Gareth Southgate to stick with an unchanged line-up, especially with regards to a back four. I’m pleased he has not been tempted to change to five at the back. That would have been on his mind coming into the tournament – switching formation against the stronger nations – but the selection shows how much confidence he has in his players.
06:06 PM
Southgate sounding positive
It’s never simple, we have strength in depth and you’re always thinking about the opponent. I think we’re on a good path and we need to stay on that track.
You can lose a midfielder with some back three systems. We want to cut the supply and put pressure on France.
06:03 PM
England fans in position early
06:02 PM
Here at the Crucible…Mike McGrath in his waistcoat
Inspired by Kevin Grealish rather than Gareth Southgate this time. Will it prove a good omen for England?
05:43 PM
Team news: England confirmed as unchanged
Just as Matt Law reported for Telegraph Sport, Southgate sticks with a back four and a forward line of Saka, Kane and Foden. No surprises in the French XI, either.
England: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane (captain), Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden
France: Hugo Lloris (captain), Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe
05:39 PM
Could you score in a World Cup penalty shootout?
Use our interactive tool to find out the safest spot to place a penalty, and reveal the World Cup history of each type of spot kick.
05:33 PM
Have a crack at our match predictor
This is a fiendishly difficult one to call, with most rating it as a 50:50 that could be decided by individual moments. Stick your neck out and predict a scoreline with our predictor tool:
05:32 PM
Sunak responds to Macron
Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron both got into the footballing spirit ahead of England’s World Cup quarter-final tie with France.
In a light-hearted exchange on Twitter, the French president asked the Prime Minister if he would support France in the semi-final if his side emerged victorious.
05:29 PM
Foden and Saka to start in unchanged line-up
Gareth Southgate is set to name an unchanged England team for tonight’s World Cup quarter-final against France.
Declan Rice has recovered from illness and is fit to start, with England manager Southgate expected to stick with the side that beat Senegal in the last-16.
That means that, rather than reverting to a back five, which he has done in previous tournament matches against top opposition, Southgate is in line to keep a back four.
The move could help to silence some of Southgate’s critics, who have previously accused him of being too cautious in big games.
05:27 PM
Emmanuel Macron gets involved…
05:24 PM
A tribute to Grant Wahl in the press box
Prominent American sportswriter Grant Wahl died after collapsing inside the stadium during the Argentina-Netherlands match.
05:20 PM
The Al Bayt Stadium for this one – the venue for England’s win over Senegal
05:18 PM
How can England stop Kylian Mbappe? Telegraph Sport’s Jim White dives in
05:11 PM
Wilton Sampaio will officiate this one
The Brazilian official was part of the Var team in Russia four years ago and awarded a controversial penalty to Saudi Arabia this World Cup.
Sampaio has not refereed any matches involving England or France so far.
He has refereed 381 games in his career, giving out 1,856 yellow cards and 102 red cards. He has also awarded 114 penalty kicks.
More background on Sampaio over here.
03:56 PM
Two hours to go
The big moment that we’ve all been waiting for is nearly here: England play France in the World Cup quarter-final in a couple of hours.
England are hoping to secure a place in what would be their second successive World Cup semi-final and their fourth overall. But to do so, they will have to beat holders France. This would mean doing something that they haven’t in 72 years: win a knockout tie against another so-called ‘big nation’ in a major finals away from Wembley.
But England will take heart from their performances so far in the World Cup. They were dominant in their 3-0 wins over Senegal and Wales, and dazzled in their opener with a 6-2 victory over Iran. The 0-0 draw with the USA in their second group game was rather underwhelming, but that seems to have just been a blip.
The biggest risk to their chances is France forward, Kylian Mbappe, who is one of the best players in the world and has been in great form in the tournament so far. England right-back Kyle Walker, who is likely to be tasked with keeping the PSG man at bay, has said that he will not “roll out the red carpet” for his opponent, adding that “he’s not going to stand in my way of, hopefully, winning a World Cup for my country.”
Mbappe has scored five goals as part of a France team which has performed well. They picked apart Poland relatively easily in the Round of 16, beating them 3-1. They were also strong in their 4-1 and 2-1 wins over Australia and Denmark in the group stage, before they lost 1-0 to Tunisia in their final group game.
The France squad boasts plenty of other talent, too. Striker Olivier Giroud became France’s top scorer last time out and has scored three so far this tournament. Adrien Rabiot, Antoine Greizmann and Ousmane Dembele can all be threatening, whilst Raphael Varane is solid in defence.
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